Overall Australian fresh vegetable export valuee saw an 11 per cent increase in 2018, up from the year prior.

Export value grew to A$281m in 2018, on the back of strong growth in key export markets of Singapore, Japan and Thailand.

Volumes also saw a sharp increase of 15.5 per cent to 227,000 tonnes, with key markets Singapore and Japan both bumping up volumes by 11 per cent, and Thailand more than doubling its quantity off a small base, to 10,500 tonnes.

The star export item for 2018 was carrot, remaining a strong performer and increasing value by 5.1 per cent to A$98m. Other key export lines include potato, onion, celery, broccoli and cauliflower.

Michael Coote, Ausveg national manager - export development, said these items were mostly being sent to high-value Asian markets.

“The Vegetable Industry Export Program, which is delivered by Ausveg in partnership with Hort Innovation, continues to support the solid growth in fresh vegetable exports,” said Coote.

“In 2018, the programme facilitated the development of export capabilities for the industry by bringing 40 buyers into Australia to see local production, taking over 40 growers on outbound trade missions, and up-skilling another 40 growers through export readiness training.”

Coote noted that, despite challenges, the industry is focused on boosting the value and volume of exports. He said work is being undertaken by Ausveg and Hort Innovation to build export capability and that the industry is well on its way to reach its ambitious A$315m 2020 export goal.